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| Fire engine takes man to hospital | Fire engine takes man to hospital |
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| A man stabbed outside a pub was taken to hospital in a fire engine because the area's three ambulances were busy. | A man stabbed outside a pub was taken to hospital in a fire engine because the area's three ambulances were busy. |
| An investigation has been launched by the Welsh Ambulance Service, which said it was taking it very seriously. | An investigation has been launched by the Welsh Ambulance Service, which said it was taking it very seriously. |
| The fire engine took John Baker, 48, nine miles (14km) from Maesteg to the Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend, where he is in a stable condition. | |
| A 36-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder and will appear before Bridgend magistrates on Tuesday. | A 36-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder and will appear before Bridgend magistrates on Tuesday. |
| Mr Baker was injured outside the King Alfred pub in Maesteg at 0050 GMT on Sunday. | |
| The ambulance service said the three ambulances for the area were busy on other calls at the time. | The ambulance service said the three ambulances for the area were busy on other calls at the time. |
| You can't necessarily produce an ambulance out of thin air Dave Galligan, Unison | You can't necessarily produce an ambulance out of thin air Dave Galligan, Unison |
| However, an ambulance was sent from the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Llantrisant, 20 miles (32km) away, but it was stood down when it was 10 minutes away because the fire engine had already left. | However, an ambulance was sent from the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Llantrisant, 20 miles (32km) away, but it was stood down when it was 10 minutes away because the fire engine had already left. |
| Dave Galligan from the union Unison said it was a "difficult period" for the ambulance service. | Dave Galligan from the union Unison said it was a "difficult period" for the ambulance service. |
| "The demand once again has exceeded the available supply... they could do not more in the circumstances, you can't necessarily produce an ambulance out of thin air," he said. | "The demand once again has exceeded the available supply... they could do not more in the circumstances, you can't necessarily produce an ambulance out of thin air," he said. |
| An ambulance service spokesman said: "The three vehicles on duty in the Maesteg area were already committed. | An ambulance service spokesman said: "The three vehicles on duty in the Maesteg area were already committed. |
| "The nearest available ambulance was at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital and this was dispatched but was stood down when police responders informed control that they would convey the patient in a fire brigade vehicle. | "The nearest available ambulance was at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital and this was dispatched but was stood down when police responders informed control that they would convey the patient in a fire brigade vehicle. |
| "At that stage the ambulance was within 10 minutes of the scene but was stood down." | "At that stage the ambulance was within 10 minutes of the scene but was stood down." |
| We are very grateful to South Wales Fire Service for their support Welsh Ambulance Service | |
| The spokesman added: "We take this matter very seriously and the trust has launched a detailed investigation to establish exactly what happened. | |
| "We are very grateful to South Wales Fire Service for their support." | |
| It went on: "Two recent reports from the auditor-general and Healthcare Inspectorate Wales identified long-standing and deep-seated problems within the ambulance service and, while there are no instant or easy solutions, we are working extremely hard to put things right." | It went on: "Two recent reports from the auditor-general and Healthcare Inspectorate Wales identified long-standing and deep-seated problems within the ambulance service and, while there are no instant or easy solutions, we are working extremely hard to put things right." |
| The Welsh Assembly Government said: "We understand the ambulance service is looking into the incident and will consider what needs to be done as a result of their findings. | |
| "The Welsh Assembly Government is committed to the modernisation of the Welsh Ambulance Service and to demonstrate this has recently provided £71m for new ambulances and communication systems to improve their performance." | |
| The ambulance service has suffered turbulent times in the past year with changes at the top in management, claims of crisis and response targets being missed. | The ambulance service has suffered turbulent times in the past year with changes at the top in management, claims of crisis and response targets being missed. |
| Earlier this month a temporary plea was issued for people living in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan to only dial 999 in life-threatening situations. | Earlier this month a temporary plea was issued for people living in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan to only dial 999 in life-threatening situations. |
| The state of "special emergency" was downgraded later the same day after call levels returned to normal. | The state of "special emergency" was downgraded later the same day after call levels returned to normal. |
| However, chief executive Alan Murray has said a promised £55m radio system and the unveiling of the first of a fleet of 119 emergency vehicles marked the trust's determination to improve the service. | However, chief executive Alan Murray has said a promised £55m radio system and the unveiling of the first of a fleet of 119 emergency vehicles marked the trust's determination to improve the service. |
| South Wales Police have appealed for witnesses to the incident outside the King Alfred in Maesteg. | South Wales Police have appealed for witnesses to the incident outside the King Alfred in Maesteg. |